KARL Dunbar scored the goal that ensured Tranmere Rovers will see out 2001 at the top of the table in the Football League Youth Alliance.

KARL Dunbar scored the goal that ensured Tranmere Rovers will see out 2001 at the top of the table in the Football League Youth Alliance.

Dunbar's 70th-minute strike from the edge of the box was enough to give Tranmere a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Bury.

Tranmere had to overcome the difficulties of a semi-frozen pitch and dogged opponents.

Coach John McMahon said: "The lads showed good balance, agility and athleticism in coping with the difficult conditions.

"There were pleasing performances from Paul Linwood, Alan Griffiths, Jamie McGuire and Stephen Jennings and it was satisfying to keep a clean sheet."

Tranmere's more controlled approach brought them a number of first-half chances that they were unable to take. And the pattern was repeating itself after the break until Dunbar pounced.

Meanwhile Chris Daggenall notched his seventh hat-trick of the season by scoring four times as Tranmere's under-16s defeated Bury 6-0. Paul Martin added the other two.

The rest of Tranmere's School of Excellence teams were also in action against Bury. The U15s drew 1-1, the U14s won 2-0, the U13s and U12s each won 3-0, the U10s won 2-1 and the U9s won 1-0.

There were notable performances by Scott Wootton for the U10s and Tom Craig in the U12s. Terry Gornell, and U12s player promoted to the U13s team, did particularly well and put his name on the scoresheet.